The Supreme Anti-Corruption Court has imposed preventive measures in the form of bail (for UAH 2 million and UAH 2.5 million, respectively) on two Supreme Court judges suspected of corruption. NV reports that this was stated by representatives of the Supreme Court on May 21. The PromPolitInform portal reports.
“On May 21, 2026, the investigating judge of the Supreme Court imposed preventive measures in the form of bail on two judges suspected of corruption in the Supreme Court. According to the court decisions, the suspects were granted bail in the amount of UAH 2.5 million and UAH 2 million, respectively. The issue of appealing the preventive measure will be resolved after reviewing the full text of the decisions,” they said.
New corruption case and its connection with the case of the former chairman of the Supreme Court – what is known
On May 19, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office expanded the circle of suspects in large-scale corruption involving the former chairman of the Supreme Court.
The suspicions were reported to three current judges of the Supreme Court, as well as to retired judges of the Supreme Court, who, according to the investigation, received an illegal benefit in their positions as judges of the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court for making a decision in the interests of the owner of the Finance and Credit group.
In particular, searches were carried out at the place of work, residence and in vehicles of a number of current and former judges of the Supreme Court.
According to the investigation, in the case, former shareholders challenged the purchase and sale agreement for 40.19% of the shares of the Poltava Mining and Processing Plant, purchased in 2002 by a businessman and owner of the Finance and Credit group. According to anti-corruption authorities, the court of first instance refused to satisfy the claim, but in 2022 the appeal court overturned this decision and declared the agreement invalid.
According to the investigation, in order not to lose the shares, the businessman transferred $2.7 million through an intermediary to a lawyer in March-April 2023, who was associated with the so-called “back office” of the Supreme Court. The money was intended for the former chairman and judges of the Supreme Court for making the “necessary” decision.
Law enforcement officers do not name the suspect, the former chairman of the Supreme Court, but it is likely that he is Vsevolod Knyazev.
On May 15, 2023, it became known that the chairman of the Supreme Court, Vsevolod Knyazev, is suspected of receiving a bribe of $2.7 million — this was documented by the NABU and the SAPO. Later, the SAPO confirmed Knyazev’s detention.
On May 16, the Supreme Court plenum expressed no confidence in Knyazev — he lost his position as chairman of the court. He and his associate lawyer were informed of suspicion of receiving illegal benefits.
Journalist Vitaliy Glagola reported that Knyazev was detained a kilometer from the Romanian border in the Transcarpathian region. According to him, border guards are checking the version of a possible attempt to illegally cross the state border of Ukraine.
On August 6, 2023, the High Council of Justice dismissed Knyazev from the position of judge of the Cassation Administrative Court within the Supreme Court.
